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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS^ 

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USarSD STATES OF AMERICA 



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GARLANDS OF THOUGHT 



BY 



ANNA M. FORD 







t FEB !4 1885/ 

PHILADELPHIA: ^"^ ' " 
WILLIAM FLINT, Publisher, 
1885. 



PREFACE 



g)^^N preparing these poems for publication 
WM^l in book-form, the author feels it neces- 
^ sary to offer some explanation regarding 
their issue. It was her original intention to have 
the collection printed for private circulation, but 
she has been induced, for obvious reasons, to pre- 
sent it to the public. 

She is well aware of the fact that her powers of 
expression are extremely limited — especially so in 
consideration of the vast resources of Nature to 
the poetic mind. Nevertheless, she is imbued with 
a spirit of sincerity and perseverance that aids her 
to surmount all difficulties ; and, in the hope that 
she may reach the inner temple of at least a few 
human hearts and cause it to resound with the 
rich harmonies of Nature — illy as she has inter- 
preted them— she strews the "Garlands" in the 

path of the New Year. 

A. M. F. 

Philadelphia, January; iB8^, 



CONTENTS. 



•♦ 

Pagk. 

A Bit of Lore 61 

A Day in the Woodlands 56 

A Dream of Roses 20 

A Fragment 63 

A Summer Scene , 28 

Aspiration 53 

A Tribute to Nature 41 

Baby 52 

Baby Ed's Prayer 50 

Could You? 18 

Eternity 82 

Fairy Frost Fair 30 

Flowers and Music 14 

Foam of the Silver Sea 34 

Fragrance 15 

Heart's Wish 16 

Idis 79 

In the Long After Years 63 

Invocation to Nature 73 

In the Summer 35 

Lame Hal 73 

Life 17 

Life's Fading Hours 66 

Lines to a Young Girl 24 



COyTENTS. 

Page 

Lines to a Lady 67 

Lines to a Friend 43 

Little Red Riding Hood 57 

Long Years Have Passed— Song 68 

Love's Messenger 71 

Midnight Reverie 32 

My Angel 70 

Ocean and Shore 22 

Old and New... 60 

Only 46 

Only Asleep , 25 

Our Darling 54 

Over the Sea 43 

Reverie 2'^ 

Some Day £8 

The Land of Dreams 

The Smiling Valley of Alvernon 11 

The Scottish Lover's Lament 64 

There's a Grave in the Valley 74 

There is Joy for Thee '. 77 

The Long Ago 37 

The Star of Hope 40 

The Emerald Isle 45 

The Treasures of Life 48 

The Temple of the Heart 58 

To a Lady Musician 75 

Yes or No 27 



THE LAND OF DREAMS, 

<&AY, hast thou known her, Fancy's own sweet 
<^ self, 

Queen of a realm afar — enchanted? 
mystic phantom, fair alluring elf, 

By whom^my soul is ever haunted! 
Her magic wand she lightly waves, and lo! the 

land of dreams — 
Its rolling shores arched high with hills and cleft 

by fairest streams — 
Upon the mortal vision glows in beauty dim, 

Its outlines lost upon the horizon's far rim. 

On towering hills, by rapid flowing streams, 

The spires of palace domes up-pointed, 
Reflect the light — wondrous land of dreams, 

Afar — celestially annointed ! 
With noiseless steps bright fairy forms flit thro' 

the palace halls. 
And where the silver c-iscades fall, and mythic 

Echo calls 
From verdant wilds that bloom with flowers most 

sweet and rare, — 
They hold their revels — they, the lovely and the 

fair ! 



10 THE LAND OF DREAMS. 

And there hath Love lier sacred temples reared — 
Hath kindled altar fires immortal! 

And every grace by love endeared, 
Is shrined within the sacred portal. 

There lingers Memory with her train — a dreamful, 
pensive one; 

And bright eyed Joy and Purity, each radiant as 
the sun. 

There Sorrow tearful, wanders too, yet strays apart ; 

She carries Mystery — a babe — upon her heart. 

The infant's mood is wild and strange; its eyes 
Betray a spirit yet undaunted; 

But sorrow over-burdened, inly cries, 
"0 child, thy mother's soul is haunted!" 

In wilds afar, where mountains tower, and lower- 
ing clouds arise, — 

Where music wierd and broken wails 'neath ever 
starless skies;— 

Where phantoms guard the forest paths — where 
torrents foam, 

There sad-eyed Sorrow weeps and sighs — there hath 
her home. 

And in a region unexplored— unknown, 

Roam shapes plutonic and infernal; 
There terrors sleep— there Darkness dwells alone 



THE SMILING VALLEY OF ALVEBNON 11 

In silence, loveless, but eternal. 

And there the wilderness, the desert, and the 
storm-lashed sea, 

Lie buried in the changeless gloom of drear ob- 
scurity, 

And in oblivion's grave upon the dismal shore, 

There shipwrecked hearts entombed, forget for- 



evermore 



THE SMILING VALLEY OF AL YERNON. 

#ALVERNON, O Alvernon, 
When first I dreamed of thee, 
I dreamed not, smiling Alvernon, 
That aught so fair could be. 

The dewy fragrance of thy glades. 
The spicy odors of thy shadowed groves. 
Thy rippling rills and sunny hillocks green. 
Make thee beloved, enchanting scene! 
My soul embracing turns to thee and loves;-- 
Thy smiling beauty never fades. 
Alvernon! 



12 THE SMILING VALLEY OF ALVERNON. 

Alvernon, Alvernon, 

Thou smiling valley fair, 
Thou mountain-guarded Alvernon, 
No gems as thine are rare. 

The sunlight cresting bright thy peaks, 
But palely gleams when on thy lakelets dim 
Its soft transparent rays sink gilded down, 
To glide o'er Thalia's brow a haloed crown 
While Thalia dreams of Julian,-— dreams of him 
E'en tho' fair *Orilie he seeks 
Of Alvernon. 

O Alvernon, Alvernon, 

Thy Thalia deeply mourns, 
Thy haughty queen, Alvernon, 
Whose brow the^ crown adorns. 

For Julian wooes sweet Orilie 
Who roves with dreamy eyes near pebbled caves. 
Her soul afar beyond the setting sun; 
She dreams of worlds more fair than Alvernon, 
And in the bliss her spirit sweetly laves; 

Yet cries, "I love my Julian — thee 
And Alvernon." 

O Alvernon, Alvernon, 

Thou smiling valley sweet, 
Fair Orilie of Alvernon, 



TBB SM1LTN& VALLET OF AtVEUmN. 13 

Thou never more shalt greet : 

The stars were dim one mournful night— 
To silver lake her wand'ring steps were bent; 
T'were fateful that in dreams she wandered 

there, 
For dreams grow real when shines the moon- 
light fair — 
The moonlight fair that often came and went, 
No more for whom had been the light 
Of Alvernon. 

Alvernrn, Alvernon, 

Thou smiling valley dear; 

My spirit yearns, O Alvernon, 

To linger with thee near. 

Yet must I bid a last adieu, 
No more to tread where Thalia holds her reign. 
Her love to Julian's grown forevermore ; — 
(They truly love who learn love's mystic lore. 
That happiness is linked with bonds and pain;) 
Queen Thalia live thy joy : Adieu 
Alvernon ! 



FLOWERS AND MUSIC. 

'HERE'S a sweet charm that lures unbroken, 
Thro' all the ravages of years ; 
Thro' all the griefs we bear unspoken 
In pain and bitterness and tears: — 
'Tis a charm woven by celestial forces, 
A nameless something hallowed by celestial 
hands, 
Wielding the same power thro' all life's dark 
courses, 
Breathing of angelic pleasures and holy lands. 

In that exquisite sense of pleasure 

To which things beautiful give rise, 
And which the pure heart counts as treasure, 

There — there only, the rare charm lies:— 
That exquisite sense of pleasure which we feel 

Whilst gath'ring odorous flowers in our palms, 
Whilst soft strains of music o'er our senses steal. 

And which perfects our conceptions, soothes, 
softens, calms. 
(14) 



PR AG RANGE. 

1^ TEALS the faint, sweet breath of blossoms 
Y On the summer air, 
To my soul's wide open portal 

Finding entrance there: — 
Brings a glimpse of sweetness vernal, 
Brings the hope of joy eternal, 

Hail ! sweet blossoms fair. 

Faint and far in lines of beauty, 

Fancy has unfurled 
To my vision all the sunny 

Gardens of the world : — 
Fragrance tropic ; blossoms rarest ; 
Lilies lovliest, purest, fairest, 

Rosebuds half uncurled. 

Flora's hand so thickly sprinkles 

Gems upon the green. 
That the verdant grasses whisper, 

"We will crown her queen." 
The s;entl3 winds rehearse the story, 
Nature weaves the crown of glory, 

Brightest ever seen. 



(15) 



16 HEARTS WISH. 

Fragrance blown from fields of morning, 

Pure — so pure and sweet, 
Forth my spirit springs rejoicing, 

Thus thy breath to greet! 
Go thy way sweet gift of heaven, 
And when falh the tender even. 

Come thou back to me ! 



HEARTS WISH. 

^1 ASK not for roses to deck me a bower, 
T^ I ask not for wealth, fame, or sovereign 

}>ower ; 
For earth's transient pleasures may fade at a 

breath, 
And sink down for aye in the dark stream of 

death : 
My wish is a sweet one, and simple and free. 
Its granting rests only, high heaven, with thee; — 
Some fair, peaceful Eden — a heaven of rest 
Where happiness lingers — with love for my guest. 



LIFE. 

# THINK not when gazing on faces that bright- 
est 
May smile 'mid the revels of beauty's fair throng, 
That theirs are the hearts beating happiest, hght- 
est! 
They, tears in mirth freeze, and their sighs 
breathe in song ! 

Who dreams of the spirit's despair, when in beam- 

The eye warms to splendor, the rounded cheek 

glows? 
Or who can trace shadows deep even in seeming 
On brows regal crown'd with the gem or the 

rose ? 

Life's joys may be sweet, yet they ever are fleet- 
ing, 
And hopes, bright in early bloom, fade and de- 
cay; 
The heart may seem light, tho' in sorrow 'tis beat- 
ing, 
And oft do we falter on life's thorny way. 
(17) 



IS oouLD ran. 

Bright Pleasure deck'd fair in her bridal arraying, 
With magic lute summons to palace and hall 
Her votaries many — the false and the straying — 
Who nourish enchantment on wormwood and gall* 

ContentiL.ent and virtue, unknown and unknowing, 
Like gems in the ocean's deep caverns impearled. 

In love pure and free as the mountain stream 
flowing, 
Dwell happy apart from the snares of the world ! 



GOULD YOUf 

^ITTING a maid, O so joyously sing-ing, 
^^ From her lap wild flowers carelessly fling- 
ing, 
A wreath of them fragrant tenderly clinging 

To her sunny brown hair. 
Over the bank, so verdantly mossy. 
Coming the sunshine, ever so saucy, 
Down o'er her ringlets so silken and glossy, 
As she's sitting just there. 



COULD YOU. 19 

Sitting a maid while the night shades are com- 
ing, 
Quietly still in the deep, purple gloaming, 
Her thoughts going out to the loved one roam- 
ing 

Ever so far from her side: — 
Thinking how they had once wandered together 
Thro' wood to water and out on the heather, 
Happy and gay in the sweet summer weather 
Till June's reddest roses died. 

She knows not, sees not, the clouds dark with 

thunder, 
Coming to drift them forever asunder, 
She who is waiting — he who is yonder 

Out on the ocean so blue. 

Daily her eyes have grown brighter and brighter, 
Daily her footstep falls lighter and lighter. 
Then her cheek pales — grows whiter and whiter, 
I could not tell her — could you ? 



A DBF AM OF BOSES. 

m DREAMED a bright dream by the brook in 
T^ the wildwood, 

Where grow the wild roses so sweet in the 
dell, 
While down the green hills I had climb'd in 
my childhood, 
Came floating the chimes of the old village 
bell. 

I dreamed of the roses, the bright, blooming 
roses, 

The sweet-scented roses that bloom in the dell, 
While close on the bank a dear fairy reposes, 

My fair love, my sweet love, my own Lily Bell. 

spotless as snow is my heart's love, my treasure 

Who dwells so serenely content in the vale! 
Who gave me her trust and her love without 
measure, 

While gathering roses one day in the dale! 

(30) 



A DEEAM OF ROSES. 21 

love is a pure gem, that glows like the morn- 
ing, 
In the spirit's deep recesses hidden away — 
And bright as the stars, the clear lieavens adorn- 
ing, 
Its sweetness outrivals the scents of the May. 



Love's sweet recollections entwined with the roses, 
Bring with thfm bright visions of dear Lily 
Bell— 

And visions of roses, the clustering roses, 
The lovely wild roses, that grow in the dell! 



come, love, my Lily Bell, gather the roses — 
I long once again their bright treasure to see! 

O gather the roses, the fragrant wild roses, 
While I tell again love's sweet story to thee! 

Tho' life's darkest sorrows and fears shall sur- 
round me, 
And fancy's illusions forever depart. 
The love of my spirit, unfading, hath crowned 
thee ! 
And ever, ever, shall bloom in my heart! 



22 OClLiN AND SBOBPJ. 

bring back the dream that I dreamed of the 

roses ! 

O bring back the hours that I spent in the 

dell ! 

Where, close on the bank, as of old she reposes, 

My fair love, my sweet love, my own Lily Bell ! 



OCEAN- AND SHORE. 

#N the ocean billows sailing, 
Glides a ship far, far awa}^ 
Now its outlines dim, unveiling, 
Pictured in the dawn of day, 
Loom up faint and fair and sightly. 

While the dawn breaks clear and brightly 
O'er the Avater's rolling tide. 

Far, far inland, surging, breaking, 
Wild the billows foam and roar, — 

Wave on wave the tide overtaking 
As it washes wide the shore — 

Washes inward to the maiden. 

Whose blue eyes with tears are laden, 

While the ship sails on her way. 



REVERIE. 

Mown furling his banner of glory, 
^T The sun-king sinks low in the west, 
The zephyrs their oft murmured story 
Repeat to the bird in his nest. 

The farmer deserting the meadow 

Turns homeward, his scythe in his hand, 

Dim twilight in purpling shadow 
Creeps stealthily over the land. 

The woodland trees lonely are sighing, 
The stream winds along by the mill, 

The sun rays reflected are dying 
In phantom shapes over the hill. 

The orchard boughs heavy are drooping, 
Unheeded the mellow fruit falls. 

Together the elm-trees are grouping. 
Shut in by the low garden walls. 

The spring bubbles clear in the hollow. 

The train rumbles by on the road. 

Far over the field skims the swallow. 

Light gleams from the farmer's abode. 

(23) 



24 LINES TO A TOXIN Q GIRL. 

The evening star pierces the gloaming, 
And back of yon dense-wooded ridge 

The silver moon upward is coming 
To brighten the old rustic bridge. 

The village bells tuneful are ringing, 
Their sweet chimes the echoes repeat, 

The village maid blithesome is singing 
And waiting her lover to greet. 



LINES TO A YOUNG GIRL. 

'OlSTG may thy young life be 
' Shielded from care, 
Days ever dawn for thee 

Cloudless and fair. 
Pure as the dews of morn 

Joys clustering glow: 
Sweet peace thy brows adorn 
Ever below. ' 

Hope, health and happiness 
Would each were thine ! 

No need of more to bless 
Thy life or mine. 



ONLY ASLEEP. 25 

Wealth never joy compels, 

Graces are sweet — 
The graces of angels 

Are treasures meet. 

Faith, hope and charity 

Dower and crown, 
Gems of such rarity 

Heaven sends down , — 
These would I wish for thee 

All thy life through — 
High as its canopy, 

Pure as its blue. 



ONLY ASLEEP. 

*IS only a year, you tell me, 
But one little year ago, 
Since they laid in my arms the baby, 
And — well it was mine you know ! 
And the buttercups, and the daisies 

On the green grassy meadows grew; 
The flowerets waved wild on the hillsides. 
In lily white, purple, and blue. 



26 ONLY ASLEEP. 

Pink blossoms trail'd deep in the wild wood, 

Where dim, solemn shadows slept; 
Around the pools in the rocky glen, 

The litchen and ivy crept. 
Dense was the green of the lofty trees. 

And the verdant moss in the dells 
Where fairies dance to songs of the breeze. 

Were bordered with pretty blue bells. 



I wedded my love in the morning, 

While the dew on the flowers shone. 
And we dwelt in a cottage, vine wreath 'd, 

With orchard and field — -our own. 
O, the world stretched beyond us smiling, 

In green, gold, and purple hues laid ; 
Our love seemed to touch with its glor}^. 

The verdure and sunshine and shade. 



But the charm was most rudely broken— 

For purpose of good it may be ; 
When they left me with only a grave — 

Only a grave and the baby. 
So the glory and brightness faded : 

I knew he would never wake; 
Yet I learned to live for the baby, — 

Yes, all for the baby's sake. 



r£js oil Ko. 2? 

feut my heart has been wholly broken, 

For purpose of good it may be, — 
they made, yes,- made another grave 

For my little one — my baby ! 
Are you gone from my love, loved ones, 

There in the cruel grave so deep. 
At the foot of the hillside lying? — 

O not dead, but only asleep! 



YES OR NO. 

#'ER the hill's the dawn is breaking, 
Pink and "gold enwrapping blue, 
Wide the sea-waves glint and sparkle— 
"Will you, love, be false or true?" 

Ah! those words, so lowly spoken 
One fair morning by the sea, 

And the vows so lightly broken, 
Linger, memory, yet with thee. 

We were pledged, but ah! we parted- 
Time and tide divide us yet; 

Do we love and broken hearted 
Seek life's sorrow to forget? 



28 A SUMMER SCENE. 

Do we walk aside and lonely? — 
Is the hearth-side dark and chill ? 

Do we watch for one face only? — 
Do we love as truly still? 

Or, hath time the feeling blunted 
That our hearts knew years ago ; — 

Is the fair plant warped and stunted, 
Tell, I pray you, yes or no? 



A SUMMER SCENE. 

i^WIFTLY the placid stream gliding, gliding, 

(^ Curves on its way, 

Whilst stemmed leaves on its breast riding, riding^ 

Sink with the day; 
The shore with its green trees pictured quaintly 

In depths of blue. 
The west all aglow with pearl hues saintly — 

Idealic view. 

Brightly the sunshine streams golden, golden, 

Mellows and falls, 
With the ling'ring glory olden, olden, 

Which oft enthralls. 



A SUMMER SCENE. 20 

Far o'er the verdant lands paling, paling 

In mystic haze, 
Ivied tower, sculptured arch veiling, veiling 

In heavenly blaze: 

The waters' fair bosom tinging, tinging — 

Ruby and rose, 
And by the low shore's fairy-like Iringing 

Softly it glows; 
In the far west fading, sinking, dying 

In slow decades, 
The oncoming twilight lying, lying — 

Violet shades. * 

Form, feature, beauty, shade, sweeping, sweeping 

Softly away. 
Grim night from her covert leaping, leaping. 

Quenches the day ! 
Yet forth from the darkness springing, springing 

Glory unfurled. 
The moon, gemming the stars, flinging, flinging 

Light on the world! 



FAIRY FROST FAIR. 

^^HE dwells on the mountain and sports in 
^Y the wildwood, 

And sings in the breezes 'that sweep wildly by ; 
The dews of the morn are the joys of her child- 
hood, 

When froze on the heart of the roses that die. 

She joys in the storms of the wild wintry weather, 
And plays with the snowflakes that eddy and 
whirl ; 

And she and the North Wind go riding together, 
Their banners of ice o'er the world to unfurl. 

She smiles to the stars when the moonlight is 
beaming, 
And radiant they glitter for Fairy Frost Fair ; 
She sets all the woodlands in ice laces gleam- 
ing, 
And pencils the earth with a beauty most rare. 

How gladly she chains the wild flow of the tor- 
rent, 

And ices the breast of the swift-gliding stream, 
(30) 



FAIRY FHOST FAIR. SI 

Enriching the shores as she floats down the cur- 
rent, 
With fair incrustations like diamonds that gleam ! 

She carves strange devices ere dawn of the morn- 
ing, 
In garden and bower, and over the pond. 

The windows of cottage and palace adorning 
With fretted work traced by the touch of her 
wand. 

Cold, cold is her reign, and her beauty long 
lingers, 
While Winter sojourns in the depths of the 
vale, 
But unseen the trace of her white, fairy fingers, 
When Spring, like a song bird, is heard in the 
dale. 



MIDNfGHT REVERIE. 

jftO the dead speak or are they, ever near? 
^ Do their dim shades people the darkened 

hall? 
Do they leave their solemn secrets with us? 
Do they fathom ours and ever keep watch 
Untiring o'er us? Do they know our deeds, 
And seek us in the lonely hours of night 
And pass the very doorways of our hearts? 
From far beyond the stars, say, do tbey come? 
What mysteries encompass them about? 
What element doth veiF their unknown home? 
Where art thou, habitation of the dead? 
far celestial sphere intangible! 
From out the nciists that blind us if did we 
Stretch forth our hands to greet them and to 

know. 
Would we but find a void and nothingness? 
From whence did every atom fall that lies 
Heaping the world whereon all beauties grow? 
And doth the light of moon and starbeams fall 
On other worlds and scenes as fair as ours? 
(32) 



MIDNIGHT RE VERIE, 33 

And whither blow the night winds? Are they 

free? 
Do they breathe the- sacred balms of heaven? 
Say, do they feel the furies of the storm? 
Do they fear the wild, dead waste of deserts? 
do they breathe the sorrows of the pines, 
And know the mysteries of the ocean caves ? 
What are ye, and from whence and wherefore, 

Life 
And Death, ye things immutable and strange? 
The hidden fount that flows, doth bear thee. Life 
Within its course :— Thou art the principle 
Whereby all Nature can her gifts bestow. 
Thoa art the thing, Death ! whereby we know 
That life is endless and eternal, for 
In life we die ; in death alone we live 



FOAM OF THE SILVER SEA. 

STARRY night and the moon's soft light, 
&^ these have a charm for me, 
But I call thee blest, and I love thee best, 
foam of the silver sea! 

Thy writhing pure, doth my soul allure 

And I long in thy floods to be 
On the shore thy kiss, and it meaneth bliss, 

O foam of the silver sea! 

Thy murmuring voice makes my soul rejoice, 

Yet alone it can sigh to thee 
For thy sweet echo's tone in my heart is known, 

O foam of the silver sea ! 

Did my spirit roam, O thou whitest foam 
Couldst thou bring it back to me? 

In the deep thy tear, on the shore thy bier, 
foam of the silver sea! 

could ever mine be as dear as thine. 

Could my love be as dear as thee? 

In the silver swell let thy sad voice tell, 

O foam of the silver sea ! 
(34) 



IN TEE SUMMER, 35 

Have I woe like thine ? Hast thou woe like 
mine? 

For thy tone seemeth sympathy 
That thrilleth my soul, at thy inward roll 

foam of the silver sea! 

The monotone of thy sighing lone, 

Say, is't of my soul the key? 
In the silver swell, sweep in and tell 

O foam of the silver sea! 



IN THE SUMMER. 

RIGHT the bloom of leaf and flower 
In the summer's glow, 
Scenting sweet the woodland bower 
Where the zephyrs blow. 

Lilies pale and fragrant roses 

Bloom and fade and fall. 
Wealth of bloom the vine discloses 

On the garden wall. 



36 ly TEE SUMMER. 

On the rocks the ferns are growing 
In the woodland shade; 

Rapid streamlets clear are flowing 
Down the verdant glade. 

Golden o'er the hill and meadow 
Falls the sunlight down; 

Mile on mile of light and shadow- 
Clover, pink and brown. 

Buttercups and starry daisies 
Sprinkled down like rain, 

Hawthorn sweet and cobweb laces 
In the grassy lane. 

Glory all the wide earth over! 

On the summer sea 
Balmy breezes for the ,rover — 

Happiness for me. 

Music of the brook and river — 
Music of the birds — 

Reeds and grasses wave and quiver- 
Have they need of words? 



THE LONG AGO. 

i| TRACE them, I trace them 
T^ In the fire-light's rud(iy,glow — 
Pictures, O so tair and radiant — 
Pictures of the long ago. 

There are scenes so well remembered, 
^ hen youth's pleasures all were mine ; 

When the flowers of spring were growing, 
In the days of " Auld Lang Syne." 

Fancy paints dear faces dimly, 
When the embers, glowing red. 

Cast their flickering beams about me, 
Bringing memories of the dead. 

Memories sweet! O these are broken 
Links in love's magnetic chain. 

That to life and hope hath bound me, 
Tho' I mourn the dead in vain! 

In the fading light up- springing, 

Love, a mystic vision glows ; 
But a shadow swift up-slanting, 

The rare picture overthrows, 



(37) 



38 SOM£: i)AY. 

Backward, backward, o'er me thronging, 
Memory's pictures fade and glow ; 

Hopes, and joys, and faces, sinking 
In the mists of long ago ! 



S03£E DAY. 

*^|rIKE the petals of the roses 
^T Wafted by the winds of fall. 
Life's fair garlands fade and scatter 
O'er the paths of one and all. 

Life's a fitful, fevered journey, 
In the sunshine — in the shade, 

But its landscape glows before us, 
All in softest beauty laid. 

Yet the picture oft deceiving, 
Far too fair and bright doth gleam. 

And the even shades veil over 
Beauties vanished like a dream. 

Winter snows drift down about us, 
Flowers dead lie buried low, — 

But in spring new blossoms fragrant 
Bright shall bud and blooming grow. 



SOME i) AT, 

And deep hidden 'mid the greenlands 
In the heart and memory shrined, 

There are blossoms rare and fragrant 
Born of thought and feeling kind. 

Lives are threads, inwoven, tangled, 
Why not weave more brightness in ? 

We have need of something sunny 
As we trudge and toil and spin. 

Let us join the song and laughter, 
And be merry while we may, 

AW the world is passing with us — 
It will all be done — some day! 



THE STAR OF HOPE, 
RIGHT star of heavenly hope, star of the 
morning, 

Shedding thy beams over mountain and hill, 
Guiding my soul and my pathway adorning, 
When the night falls, sweet star, shine on me 
still. 

Though thy clear light ever joyously hailing. 
Sorrow may come to me clouding thy ray. 

Yet will I watch for thee, faithful, unfailing. 
Until thy light again gladdens my way. 

Precious star radiant, faltering never, 
Star of unfading hope, priceless and dear; 

Would I were nearer thee ! bathing forever 
In thy pure, precious light, how could I fear? 

Clear gem of happiness, radiantly gleaming, 
Mellowed so tenderly, sweet star, divine. 

Whilst thy light over me undimmed is beaming. 
Light on my spirit shines like unto thine. 

(40) 



A TRIBUTE TO NATURE. 

'HE apples are ripe in the orchard, Tom, 
And the grass by the brook grows green ; 
And the tall wheat gleams in the rolling field, 

And the hill is a very queen: 
With her green banks dress'd in the summer's 
best 
Of blossoms, grown fair and bright; 
And her high-top round, hj the sunset crown'd 
In a royal blaze of light. 

We're in debt to old Nature, of rev'rence, 

Tom ;- 

(How wondrous the change of the seasons 

round !) 

I vow she's a genius ! — The goddess fruition ! 

What does not up-spring from the dull old 

ground ? 

The river lights glow in the twilight, Tom, 

And the hillside is growing gray; 

And the stretch of wood by the village road, 

Lies so dark and still ! and the day 

(41) 



42 TO A FRIEKD. 

Rides far in the west, like a saint at rest 

On pillows of rose and gold; 
Now she sinks afar, and the evening, star 

Glides in on the night's dark fold. 
So we go on to eternity, Tom, 

And what shall be ours in the unseen land? 
Ah ! Nature's a loving mother, and wise, 

If only her children could understand! 



TO A FRIEND. 

'HE soul hath fitful dreams — 
Full many — thus it seems: 
Who knows the inmost craving of the soul? 
flowers, most rare and sweet, 
O beauty incomplete, 
Fate ever slips beyond one's own control. 

We dream of that to be, — 
Perchance I dream of thee; 
We gaze down life's long vista in alarm. 
Of all that's fair and good, 



OVBR THE SEA. 43 

There's little understood, 
But in. the living presence lies the charm. 

Ask not, soul, but give ! 

So may we learn to live, 
And twine the long, hard lines of life with flowers. 

When soul to soul may speak, 

What higher would we seek? 
thus in heaven are spent the golden hours. 



OVER TBE SEA. 

Ij" WATCH from my casement window, 
™^ A barque on the billows ride, 
For it bears away, for many a day, 
My sailor from my side. 

I watch from my casement window. 

The foam on the waters blue, 
And each rising crest, from the gorgeous 
west, 

Glows bright with the rainbow's hue. 

I watch from my casement window, 
In the twilight's purple glow — 



44 OVJSB THE SEA. 

Watch the evening star, but the barque's afar 
With my sailor love, you know. 

I watch from my casement window, 
While the moonlight's on the sea. 

For I'm waiting there, in the beauty lair, 
For him to come back, you see. 

I watch from my window ever, 

At eve and at early morn, 
But mjf^eyes are dim, for I think of him. 

And I'm sorry and forlorn. 

I sigh while I watch at even, 

The lights on the distant lea, 
I weep bitter tears o'er the weary years 

Ere he will return to me. 

****** 
I watch from my casement window. 

And my hopes are pure and sweet. 
For the barque's in sight, in the morning 
light, 

Where the sky and the waters meet. 

I watch from my casement window, 

A barque on the billows ride 
With my eailor true, I am glad, are you? 

For I am to be his bride. 



THE EMERALD ISLE. 

iHILE o'er our land the stars and stripes 
Float freely, far and wide, 
Oppression holds an iron sway 
Upon the other side. 

While triumph here can proudly face 

The coming of the foe, 
The Emerald Isle sinks 'neath disgrace, 

And eats the dust of woe. 

Why boast of rugged heights or fells, 
Of beauteous lakes and streams? 

Poor Erin's breast no longer swells 
To music — but in dreams. 

Then up, dear Freedom— Liberty— 

And haste to Erin's side. 
Her cup of agony remove, 

And save a nation's pride. 

Let Justice crush beneath her heel 

Bold Tyranny and pain ; 

The way of happiness reveal; 

Let toil no more be vain. 

(45) 



46 ONLY. 

Hail! Freedom, list to sorrow's call! 

And grant her plea — release — 
Till proud shall wave from hut and hall 

The olive branch of Peace. 



ONLY. 

#NLY a cottage nestled 
Under the hill, 
The roses climbing over 
The window sill. 

Only a baby's cradle 

In on the floor; 
Only a mother watching 

Out by the door. 

Only a sweet face nestled 

Daintily there; 
Cradled only a baby 

With golden hair. 

Now a child in the doorway. 
Watching the sun. 

Or in the pretty garden, 
Learning to run. 



ONLY. 47 

Then a boy on the hillside, 

Happy at play, 
Sports while the golden sunrise 

Wanders away. 

Then a pupil in school-room, 

Knowledge to gain, 
Girding life's armor nobly — 
Will it be vain? 

Then a youth on life's highway. 

Earning his bread ; 
Then a man in life's battle 

Bowing his head. 

Onward to life's last sunset — 

Onward he goes, 
In the low-lying valley 

Finding repose. 

Was it for truth, or glory? 

Was it to shame? 
Who can tell us the story? 

What was his name? 



THE TREASURES OF LIFE. 

SPHERE are pearls of Truth and Wisdom, 
>r There are palms of peace and joy ; 
There are flowers of sweetest beauty 

Which time cannot destroy. 
But where are these treasures hidden? 

where is the garnered store? 
Will they fall to each unbidden? 

When ours, will we yearn for more ? 

There are founts of wondrous knowledge, 

There are waters deep and clear, 
There are gems and sprays of lilies — 

Bright things that the soul holds dear: 
Sweet anthems of truth and glory. 

And mines of the purest gold. 
And joys of the heart the sweetest 

That on earth have e'er been told. 

But where do they lie unheeded — 
Joys,^ beauties, that oft we miss? 

(0 spurn not a homely treasure 
For want of a higher bliss!) 



(48) 



TBE TREASURES OF LIFE. 49 

And how shall we come upon them ? 

Through a dim and trackless wood, — 
Where the trees in the high winds murmur,— 

Low breathing of endless good?— 

Or far on the towering mountain? 

Or in other lands apart? 
Or out on the rolling prairie? 

Or just here? Or in the heart? 
In the paths of truth and honor, 

There are angels pure and high, 
Who circle the brow of manhood 

With garlands that never die! 

There are hills and by-ways stretching 

Far, far on life's clouded way, 
But the rock-hewn steeps are gilded 

With the sunset's brilliant ray. 
Then let us on! If we falter, 

Hope, fair as a star above, 
Shall shine over Death's cold altar— 

A token that God > Love! 



BABY ED'S PRAYER. 

Y the window Lame Hal often 
Sat the whole day long. 
He was — so pale and weary !— 

Never had been strong. 
How he longed to join the mirthful, 

Happy boys outside! — 
Longed to tread the fields and meadows, 
Sunny, green and w^ide. 

But he longed in vain : these pleasures 

Were to Hal denied: 
(We who have good health should ever 

By its laws abide.) 
Baby Ed was fat and dimpled, — 

Rosy, full of fun; 
Bright and fair; — a mischief-making 

Winsome little one. 

To Hal's side Ed oft would patter, 

Lean against his knee, 
Prattle, coax awhile, or question, 

"Won't you pay wis me?" 



(50) 



^A^r ED^S PRAtEU, dX 

Hal one day made feeble answer, 

Said "1 cannot play: 
Now be quiet: — I'll play with you 

On some other day." 

Baby Ed in sudden sorrow 

Hung his curly head, 
Patted Hal with chubby fingers 

While he, lisping, said : 
"I's so sorry — tan't be noisy, 

Don't know what to do. 
What's ee matter wis you bruzzer — 

Is you sorry, too?" 

"Yes!" said Hal, "I'm tired andsorry — 

Hal is sick you know; 
And I wish that I was better 

So that I could go 
Out through all the summer weather 

In the fresh, pure air. 
I wish 'twas always summer, 

Always bright and fair!" 

Up-spoke Ed with quick decision, 

"Tell you what I do; 
Ma says Dod will answer payers, 

I will pay for you." 



52 BABT. 

In a trice the child was kneeling, 

Bowed his baby head, 
Then his sweet voice broke the silence, 

These the words he said: 

" Pease Dod, dive Hal all him wishes, — 

O how glad he'll be ! 
Ed don't want Hal to be sorry. 

Make him well like me." 
Happy Hal ! that prayer was answered. 

At the dawn of day, 
To the realms of fadeless summer, 

Passed his "soul awav ! 



BABY. 



ABY 'neath the sod lies sleeping, 
Green the grass about her tomb. 
Sweetly and for aye lies sleeping, 
She is far beyond death's gloom. 

She has passed the shadowed portal. 
Entered in the realms of Day, 

And her blooming soul immortal 
Dwells in lands of joy away. 



ASP IB Al ION, 

40NTENTMENT may dwell in a valley, 
Aspiration tents on the hill; 
But if we would sit on the mountain, 
We must climb and climb with a will. 

Some high purpose ever before us— 
Life's work ever willing to do— 

We cannot afford to be cowards, 
We aim to be steadfast and true! 

To be ever kind and forgiving, 

And upright, and noble and strong ; 

Brave hearted and earnest, and tender, 
And faithful; and guiltless of wrong. 

The banner of freedom floats o'er us — 

That boon which so dearly we prize- 
Then let the free spirits' endeavor 
Be pure as the blue of the skies! 

0, cherish as precious and golden 
All emblems of virtue and truth; 

For these are as gifts from the angels 
To rouse the ambitions of youth! 



(53) 



54 OUR DARLING. 

O, cherish as precious and golden 
All beauties through life that you find; 

For practice makes perfect, and every 
Resolve adds new grace to the mind ! 



OUR DARLING. 

^felSS the pale lips of our darling, 
^Y' Clothe her form in spotless white, 
Clasp her dainty hands together, 

For she lieth dead to-night. 
Brush the tangled, silken ringlets 

From her beauteous, waxen brow. 
Touch her cold hands lightly — lightly, 

Darling is an angel now. 

Gently — gently lay our darling 

In her narrow coffin bed, 
Gently — ^gently twine the rosebuds 

In a pure wreath round her head. 
Lay a wreath of blossoms fragrant 

At her tiny, shrouded feet, 
Where their odor faint may mingle 

With the rosebud's incense sweet, 



OUR DARLING. 55 

Farewell bid the loved forever 

Stand around her bier and weep, 
Kiss the pale lips softly— softly, 

For our little one's asleep : 
Kiss the eyelids closed forever, 

Kiss the dimpled cheeks so white, 
Ere they shut the sweet face ever 

From our longing, yearning sight 

Slowly bear our loved forever 

From our lonely home away. 
She will wake on earth, never, 

She hath found a brighter day ! 
In a lowly grave she lieth 

Cold beneath the grassy sod, 
But her spirit fair, immortal 

Dwells in realms of bliss with God. 



A DAY IN THE WOODLANDS. 

HAT a delight, when the sun shines bright, 
And summer is kissing spring, 
To gather flowers in the woodland bow'rs 
Where blithely the wild birds sing. 

The brooklet flows where the wild flow'r grows, 
And bright and clear is the stream; 

The young fern nod o'er the mossy sod 
Whilst they of the fairies dream. 

The scene is fair, and the balmy air 

Is laden with fragrance sweet; 
The waving trees, and the honey bees 

The sun with low murmurs greet. 

Far in the sky, see the clouds float by 
Like islands of gold-capped snow ; 

Down o'er the grass see the shadows pass 
As out from their haunts they go. 

Then haste away on this perfect day — 

Rejoice in summer weather ! 

For blessings given are gifts from heaven 

For each and all together. 

(56) 



LINES ON AN ENOEA VING OF LITTLE 
BED RIDING HOOD, 

CHARM lies even in thy name, 
Dear little maid ! 
To thee the children of fame 

Have homage paid. 
The sweet grace of thy tender years 

Makes potent the spell 
Hallowing thee, for guilty fears 
Far from thy breast dwell. 

Innocence writ on thy brow — 

Its clustering hair. 
Waving o'er it as now, 

Makes thee— how fair! 
The soft glance of thy lifted eye — 

What thought made it so ? 
Type of the morn— the summer sky, 

Child, thou'rt blest, I know, 

(57) 




THE TEMPLE OF THE HEART. 

OTIVES good or bad that move us, 
Hopes with wliich we would not part, 
Each are burn, and all are cradled 

In the temple of the heart: — 
In the temple,— sacred temple — 

Where the gem of love lies shrined, 
Where the germ of wisdom slumbers, — 
Attributes to heaven that bind. 

View the scenes of bounteous Nature, 

All are beauteous, chaste and fair; 
And her temples — perfect temples — 

All a touch of glory wear. 
But are we who feel the grandeur, 

Perfect thus in every part? 
Is there no unbeauteous prospect 

In the temple of the heart? 

Are its walls with bright thoughts gilded, 

And with fairest pictures hung? 

Are its aisles full heaped with treasures 

That we search at will among? 
(58) 



THE TEMPLE OF THE HEART. 69 

Or are we too weak to gather 
Of life's gems a plenteous part ? 

Ah! beware what stores you garner 
In the temple of the heart. 

Do we wreathe love's (lowers immortal — 

Twine them 'round the shrine of good? 
Do we prize the gifts of heaven 

Quite as dearly as we should? 
Are we upward ever striving — 

Striving for the better part? 
Are our spirits strong within us? 

Search the temple of the heart ! 



OLD AND NEW. 

DOLEFUL sound, the chime of midnight 
bells, 

Sadly echoing linger their farewells, 
While on his wintry couch the Old Year lies 
And 'midst the mournful music droops and dies. 
The golden morn no more shall hail his rise, 
Nor seasons spring for him in fairest guise ; 
Th' unblotted page by Time to Future lent. 
He ne'er again shall scan with figure bent; 
Nor record trace of each fast fleeting day — 
The record of his advent and decay :— 
Nor tears regretful spill in more regretful thought. 
To view the ruin in his childhood wrought, 
Whose brightest hours in careless freedom~passed, 
Proved waste and forfeit of his hopes at last. 
O blotted record ! most bitter tear ! 
Commemorizing many a wasted year — 
Ye things of sorrow, haunt not now.the .true, 
Be blasted, old year, in a brighter new ! 

(60) 



A BIT OF LOBE. 

|||F man ty Wisdom would attention give, 
f ^ He soon might find the truest way to live; 
Strong in his z^^al, with virtue for his friend, 
He could not fail her laws to comprehend: 
Peace at his couch, an angel comforter, 
Vouchsafing all that he could ask of her ; 
The field and bough each each yielding to his 

board, 
That bounteous fare by toil and prudence stored^ 
For deems he sweet that labor yet his due, 
Which, shared with love, brings angel bright- 
ness, too ; 
Content with that he hath, yet pities woe, 
And finds a part on others to bestow, 
Benevolence doth crown him, and his eyes 
Discern afar the peaks of Paradise. 
Aye! power may boast, and lordly men may 

rule. 
Each crowning wealth his king — himself the 

fool- 
But angels pass these monarchs and their 
thrones, 

To gather up the dust of virtue's bones. 

(61) 



A FRAGMENT. 

MN what fair sphere, remote, first glowed that 

f^ gem 

Immortal— priceless— wliich the soul holds dear ; 

The pure and radiant gem of love — God's gift, 

By which all things are purified and blept ? 

Sweet Love ! Thou angel guardian of the soul ! 

We may not lift the veil of mystery 

That shrouds the fair, far island of thy birth, 

From whence came with thee white-wing'd 

purity, 
And bright-eyed joy, and blisses infinite. 
And seraph symphonies, and holy dreams, 
With rapture such as shines in angel eyes. 
earth-bound soul. Love spans the arch to 

heaven ! 
And if thou wouldst her treasures make thine 

own, 
Go to the rose, her fragrance sweet inhale. 
The light, the balms, the dews ambrosial spilt 
From heavens high blue, she hath imbibed ; she 

lives 
Fed at fair Nature's fount. Go to the rose, — 
Go, and Love's perfect rest there shalt thou 

find. 
(63) 



IN THE LONG AFTER YEARS. 

#DEAR be the thought that fond memory 
carries 
Beyond each to-morrow — its pains and its 
fear?, 
There's balm in remembrance, a sweetness that 
tarries, 
O who would forget in the long after years! 

O sweet be the song that perchance shall remind 
us 
Of bright days and pleasure, of sad days and 
tears ; 
pure be the hope that shall fade not behind 
us, 
But bloom brightly on in the long after years. 

O prized be the flower that e'er shall betoken 
The bloom and the wither of life's fairest 
day; 
O prized be his heart whose love vows are un- 
broken 
In the long after years that follow life's May. 

(63) 



64 THE SCOITISH LOVER'S LAMENT. 

Will not all these lead to the faith we regret 
not, 
Which stillefh the tempests within us that 
roll, 
Giveth joy unto him who hath learned to for- 
get not. 
And bringeth him on to the bourne of the 
soul? 



TBE SCOTTISH LOVERS LAMENT. 

^y*HE lowlands were thick wi' the bloomin' 

^ heather. 

The sun kissed the rose — 'twas in summer 

weather 
When Gracie and I roamed alang together — 
My ain love was Gracie Laguire ! 

Ah ! that was full mony a lang year ago, 
Ye canna guess how lang it seems, that I trow; 
But the grave-stone white i' the kirk yard will 
show 

The sweet name O' Gracie Laguire. 



THE SCOTTISH LOVERS LAMENT. 65 

Sic a woesome sight for a lover to see, 
An' aft i' the dark did I wish for to dee, 
When shipped on the ocean afar frae the lea — 
Afar frae sweet Gracie Laguire. 

Ah ! nane ither maid was sae bonnie or ffiir, 
The sky's blue and gold matched her eyes and 

her hair, 
An' wi' her^ sweet ^love I could na wish me 

mair, 

Sae faithfu' was Gracie I.aguire : 

Sae winsome an' true; yet in silence she lies 
Aneath the cauld clay wi' her face to the skies ; 
I canna forget her blue love-lighted eyes — 
Come back to me Gracie Laguire I 

I brave fearfu' storms on the wide rolling sea. 
But lightsome seem all its dark perils to me, 
An' aft I lang sadly to lie doon and dee, 
An' rest wi' sweet Gracie Lasfuire. 



(6G) 



LIFE'S FADIKG HOURS, 

'HE sweet bells of memory, 
\^'ith a musical rhyme, 
Like the perfume of flow'rs 

Down the fair slopes of time. 
Steal soft to our senses 

While Hope's happy bow'rs 
Glow with blossoms of promise 

In life's fading hours; 
But the shadows are falling — 

Hope's promises too — 
Like the fair flowers that scattered 

When winter winds blew, 
Like the rainbow that arched 

'Mid the swift summer showers. 
Are sinking and dying 

With life's fading hours. 
The clear bells of memory 

With a sorrowful chime. 
Echo down the steep hills 

That we wearily climb; 
In the wild intonation, 

The long buried years 
Seem living again o'er their 

Joys and their fears. 



LINES TO A LADY, 67 

Life's sun is declining— 

They echo no more, 
Earth's glories have faded — 

The journey is o'er ! 
sad to the heart 

Is the death of the flow'rs, 
And hopeless is trust 

In life's fast fading hours. 



s^--. 



LINES TO A LADY, 

|1 ATH nature strung within thy breast, 

13 A chord that wakes to thrill 
With voiceless music and unrest, 

Thy being's depths so still? 
And canst thou hear in music's tone 

A voice that bids thee flee, 
And in the night's deep shades alone 

Seek unseen things— be free? 

Or, doth within thy soul a fire 

Volcanic burn and glow, 
Thy mind deep urging to aspire 

To that thou mayst not know? 



68 SONG. 

What mortal eye can pierce the skies, 
Or search the seas that roll? 

Who here can know the mysteries — 
The magnitude of soul? 

Unclouded be thy spirit's day, 

Each kindly grace "be thine, 
With hope and joy about thy way. 

Like blossoms sweet to twine! 
A kindly fate impel thee on, 

And light thy soul be given, 
With wisdom's sweet fruition, — won 

When thou shalt rest in heaven! 



SONG. 



'ONG years have passed since first we met 
'' Beneath the linden tree, 
But while I live I'll not forget 

The words he said to me: 
*'0, by my faith, sweet maid," he said, 

"And by thine eyes of blue, 
I pledge my heart's deep love," he said, 
"To thee, so kind and true." 



SONG. 

Close by the singing brook it stood— 

The dear old linden tree; 
There while the sun set by the wood, 

He pledged his love to me. 
And oft where sweet the wild-flowers grew, 

We watched the clouds afar, 
And saw the heavens' glorious blue 
Pierced by the evening star. 

Too swiftly fled those happy hours— 

I oft recall the scene— 
The dim wildwood, the summer flowers, 

The brook and meadows green. 
We wandered to that fertile spot 

Full oft and many a day, 
'Twas there he said "Forget me not 
When I am far away." 

Now far away my lover lies 
Beyond the deep, blue sea. 
And all in vain my spirit cries 

Come back, come back to me ! 
But hope serene paints promise bright 

In sunset clouds afar— 
We yet shall meet in realms of light 

Beyond the evening star. 



MY ANGEL. 

2| N pain or strife, close by my side, 
T^ A glorious angel stays, 
The current of my life to guide, 
With hope to crown my days. 

Oft from the drear and clouded night. 
With dreamlike fancies born, 

Upon my vision warm and bright 
Gleams forth a radiant morn : — 

W^ith dream-like fancies, faint and fair, 
Like rose-hues blent with snow, — 

Etherial beauty traced in air, 
Before me passing slow. 

Life's varied scenes before me pass 

By fanc}^ wrought so fair, 
They seem reflections veiled in glass. 

They fade — they are not there. 

But lo ! the heights of Paradise 

M}'' angel paints above, 
I follow him with wistful eyes. 

His name — his name is Love. 



(70) 



LOVE'S MESSENGER. 

'LEAR streamlet babbling thro' the wood, 
I'd hush thy music if I could, 
For fear yon bird in tree-top tall, 
Will answer nothing to my call. 
O song bird, stay thy flight, I pray ! 
My love is waiting far away ; 
Sweet song-bird, be my messenger, 
And bear love's fervent wish to her. 
say i long her face to see, 
And ask her if she thinks of me 
When by the light of evening's star, 
She traces fairer worlds afar, 
Where cometh not the burdened day, 
Where hope's fair blossoms ne'er decay ; 
Where Love 'mid vernal fragrance sweet. 
Serenely dwells in bliss complete. 
bright bird, be my messenger — 
My heart's love bear afar to her, 
And tell her that the violets blue. 
By which she pledged her love so true, 
Are grown in clusters thick and sweet 
Along the hollows at my feet; 



(71) 



72 LOVms MESSENGER. 

And take this bunch — 'twas plucked for her- 
And whispering low, sweet messenger, 
Say that her name I oft do bless; 
Say, that with kiss of love I press 
These violets that to thee I give. 
And that I pray we each maj^ live 
To greet as when we parted — true — 
By token of the violets blue. 
And if perchance she h,eeds thee not. 
Thou mayst believe I am forgot — 
But nay ! I trust my love, bright bird. 
Go give my message, word for word. 
And mark the love-light in her eye, 
And heed if she but once may sigh ; 
Then backward wing thy flight to me, 
For I shall wait, bright bird, for thee ! 



INVOCATION TO NATURE. 

^ING to me, sing to me, green, swaying trees, 
^ What are ye whispering low in the breeze? 
Sing of the glories of summer's bright reign, 
Promise to bring me her pleasures again. 
Over the hills where the grasses grow green, 
Fragrant are blooming wild roses unseen; 
Blow forth your perfumes, flowers most rare, 
Scent with wild sweetness the life-giving air ; 
Bring to me, bring to me, purest delight. 
Teach me to learn from thy beauties aright. 
voices of Nature, wilds of my birth. 
Renew me thy pleasures unbroken on earth ! 
Arched skies of heaven, winds, and trees ! 
What treasures could ever be like unto these? 
Nature, inspire me with impulse divine. 
Teach me to love thee, and be ever thine! 
Within me waken love's highest and best,— 
Sweet as the blossom by night winds caressed ; 
Grace of the pure to my spirit impart. 
That from thy bosom I ne'er may depart, 
Till o'er my pathway Death's waters shall roll- 
Wash me afar to the home of the soul. 

(T6) 



THERE\S A GRAVE IN THE VALLEY. 

HERE'S a grave in the valley, lying far 
'Yond the mountain pale with its crest 
of gold; 
And o'er it glimmers the evening star, 

When the clouds in the west grow gray and 
cold. 

There he lies in a slumber dreamless — deep — 
And the ages on, and the world may roll ; 

And o'er him phantoms lone vigils keep, 
But he waketh not, for he hath no soul! 

O his was a brief but happy day, 

For the light of love on his pathway shone; 
But the gnomes of Fate stole the light away, 

And left him in darkness, drear and lone. 

He died — but he died as the summer rose ; 

As a light that fades on a distant shore. 
And the wild sea ebbs, and the wild sea flows. 

But he will awaken, nevermore ! 

Let him sleep in the valley, lying far 

'Yond the mountain pale with its crest of gold; 

And his love will come when the evening star 

In the distant west, glimmers fair and cold. 
(74) 



TO A LADY MUSICIAN. 

thee and verse at once my soul in- 
clin'd, 

I stray into the garden of the mind, 
Where thoughts like roses, clust'ring, half un- 

curl'd, 
Await their season in the outer world. 
pure as gem from cavern of the sea, 
Shall bloom the thoughts I dedicate to thee! 
No fateful secret do I here impart, 
But seek to reach— not win— thy gentle heart. 
Fain would I call upon thee, tender muse, 
To with poetic fire my soul infuse, 
That I might bear afar a tender word. 
As on the wing of some sweet singing bird. 
Whose airy pinions from an eastern shore, 
The maiden's message to a loved one bore. 
Ah ! memory comes as on the bird's soft wing, 
The past of melody sweet strains may bring ; 
And oft sweet music floating to mine ear, 
Recalls the strains I nevermore may hear. 
O rare and sweet that music all thine own. 
That once of love breathed to my heart 

alone. 

(75) 



76 TO A LADY MUSICIAN. 

And surely thine to e'er those strains recall, 

If it remembers aught, remembers all 

That may have been to woo such music 

there — 
Thy heart's sweet song unburdened by a 

care. 
Yet ah ! what meshes silent fate can weave — 
The lip may smile, and yet the lieart may 

grieve. 

Fair flowers grace the treasures of the mind — 
Fadeless — with memory's evergreens entwined; 
The desert flower finds of its kindred few, — 
Who deeply love are kindred souls and 

true ; 
And midst the many if we lonely stray, 
Yet eyes familiar sometimes glance our 

way, 
And thus we find, — not ore to merely lend 
Friendship for a day— truly find a triend ! 



THERE IS JOY FOR THEE. 

INHERE is joy for thee in the singing 

breeze 

That bringeth the flowers' perfume, 
That maketh green all the woodland trees, 

And dispelleth the winter's gloom. 
When the heavens glow in the gilded morn 

All glad with birds' minstrelsy, 
then thy hopes with the hours are born— 
O then there is joy for thee ! 

But I dream of an endless day 

Most fair with eternal light, 
And my soul would soar to that realm 

away, 
Where ne'er cometh clouds or blight:— 
The land of summer, where all is well,— 

Where breezes immortal blow. 
Where in love supernal the blest ones 
dwell— 
O my spirit yearns to go! 



78 THERE IS JOY FOB THEE, 

There is joy 7or thee in the ocean's roar, 

In river and brooklet's flow; 
There are charms "that lure on the earthly- 
shore, 

By its ties thou'rt bound below. 
Dark seemeth the way to the gates of death, 

Unknown are the lands afar; 
Thou dwellest content with thy mortal 
breath, 

Gazing up to moon and star. 

But each breath and tone hath deepen 
power 

That biddeth] my soul mount high, 
And Nature telleth in leaf and flower. 

That only the dust can die. 
when have perished the roses of youth, 

And life is on the decline, 
The soul awaketh to higher truth, 

Love, and harmony divine! 



IDIS. 

'SB IKE a blue sea — tideless — the high 
-^ heavens 
Wrought by the master liand in bright 

frescoes — 
Rose, crimson and amber outlined in 

gold— 
A domed expaijse of splendor in- 
finite 
Illumining the beauties of a world. 
From beyond a dark mountain crest 

the sun 
Furling his slant rays like a banner 

down, 
Sinks low, veiled in the purple of his 

robe. 
While deep vales glimmer, fading on 

the sight. 
In a sheltered dell where the palms 

waving, 
Sing to a limpid stream of the far 

sea, — 
Where the wood-bird with a good-night 

carol, 



80 IDIS. 

On tired wing flits slow to his hidden 

perch, 
There, wooed by orient breezes laden 

sweet, 
Idis, on a huge stone mossed and 

ivied, sits alone. 
By Nature tbroned, by Nature dowered 

with gift of beauty rare and sweet; 
Nor lacking soul nor sense — most won- 
drous fair! 
Gown of snowy white — semblance of 

the pure — 
The sweet grace of her spirit in her 

eyes, 
Her half-curl'd tres«^es gleaming in the 

light ;— 
These, and the soft hues of un- 
bounded youth, 
Leave but a faint-limned picture of 

Idis. 
Mortal is Idis by the fair, clasped 

hands, 
By the rare, sweet smile on the fairer 

face, 
But from the lustrous eyes the bound 

soul speaks !— - 



IDIS. 81 

from those spirit wells the light 

beams forth 
In language mute but eloquent, and 

tells 
Of rarer grace yet hidden deep with- 
in! 
And in the spirit that hath felt its 

bond, 
In power relentless as the ocean 

wave 
The tide of love hath^ 'risen to be 

free! 
Ah! who would dare that heav'n-bom 

flame defile, 
Or urge that tempest but to heights 

sublime ! — 
How dark the brow that bears the 

brand of ill, 
While Love but emanates the glow 
of Heaven! 



ETERNITY, 

^^URN on, thou mighty globe of God's 
^Y creation — 

In thy matchless beauty, turn! 
Who knows the mystery of thy formation — 

Who thy length of years can learn? 

Shine on, thou light of ages — golden day — 

king, 
Furled in clouds and glories, shine! 
What army drawn could conquer thee at 

day-spring, 

Or quench one lambent beam of thine ? 

Uprise, ye crags and peaks of mountains 

hoary, 

Robed in solemn grandeur, rise! 

What hand can lift the mount, or dim 

the glory 

Of its crest along the skies? 
(82) 



ETERNITY. 83 

Surge 00^ thou mighty billow of the ocean — 
In thy seething wildness, surge ! 

What hand can drag thee down, or stay 
thy motion — 
Who shall sing thy funeral dirge? 

Flow on, resistless current of life's river — 
On to death's 'cold haven, flow! 

What tho' in the darkness we cry and 
shiver — 
Joys eternal we shall know ! 



